Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-02

Of two men, Mr. Smith and Mr.. Stockely,
and hurried forward. All idea that they
were following conscripts had now been
given up. They had learned that the cap
tors had been seen oiling their engine, as
If preparing fer long run. and seeming
to perfectly understand their work. Fuller
and Murphy were now able, for the first
time, to consult about their plans. We
were running on regular time-a circum-
stance that they had noted in the reports
received from the different stations-and
that tine was only sixteen miles per hour,
which meant two hours TO kingston
They were making seven or eight miles
on the pole car, and that If kept up Ut
was the utmost they could do, would
bring them to Etowah in two or three
hours from the start. Then if" Fuller
continued, I'VE can find the old Ionah
ready at our end Of the branch, We can
take her and run up TO Kingston in fifteen
minutes more. There are to be some
extra trains on the road today that will
bother the scoundrels up there, and the
chances are that we will overhaul them at
that place. where We will get plenty of
help" But if we do not find the
Yonah ready was asked Why, then,
so far as can see, we are done, " was the
reply.
They did not stop 70 speculate, but were
all this time pressing on at the very high
est speed possible Ii might well be that
one minute would make all the difference
between finding the Yonah and her
starting back to the iron works, miles
away. But there was a sharp Interrupt
ton just before they came in sight OF
Etowah, and while they were straining
every nerve and looking forward 10 see If
the smoke Of the engine was yet visible.
We had taken up rail, and there was
crash, II sense OF falling, and they found
themselves lying. hand car and all, in
heap at the bottom of a ditch! II the en-
bankment had been as high at that place
as at many others on the road. all our
danger would have ended, for no other
party that day originated anything against
US; but the ground was almost level and
except Il few bruises, they were unhurt,
and at once placed their car on the track
again.
While doing this, they were greatly
stimulated and hurried by noticing the
smoke and steam OF the Yonah, which
they could see across the long bend on
their side Of Etowah river. If they could
only make the distance, little more than
a mile, before the engine went back on
the branchl With all their power, like
men working for their lives, they drove
forward. They were noon to soon. The
engine was on the main track still, and
the tender was just being turned on the
half moon turn table, preparatory to start
ing back But the people there saw the
furiously driven hand car, with the shout
ing, excited men on it, and at once sus-
pended their work and gathered around
to know the cause Of these frantic ges
lures. Fuller had not much breath left
to spend in talking, but managed to say
that the Yankees had taken his train, and
that he wanted their engine, and all of
them with their guns to follow in chase.
He, with every man of his party, was well
known and there was no stopping to ques-
ton. Their very appearance, streaming
with sweat and almost exhausted, bore
witness to the urgency OF their haste. A
score Of strong arms whirled back the
tender on the turn table, and pushed it
and an empty coal car up to the engine,
while a number of Confederate soldiers
who were waiting to take the next train
southwark to Big ShaEty, piled in also.
Now they We're off with strong, well
armed party, and the chase was on more
ttludl ltTIls. lUt Olldu, III lHt
words of Fuller, was not strong en-
gine, but had large wheels, was as active
as n cat, and with a light load would run
very fast She was now just in the ser
vice adapted to her. and her drivers called
out all her powers. AS they flew over the
ground, il was refreshing contrast to
the eXertions on foot or hand car. The
thirteen miles were made in sixteen min
utes. If the extra trains at Kingston
only entangled ms rs long as Fuller hoped
the whole affair would soon be brought to
IA final issue, lie did not dread the fight
that was likely to follow, for our number
was only reported even yet by those who
had seen us working rs eight, while he
had some twenty well armed men with
him at this stage of the journey; and there
were the crews of the four or five trains
at Kingston. Indeed, Fuller and Murphy
might be excused If they rather feared
that "the Yankees" might be captured be-
fore they arrived.